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Watford boss wants fans to watch live games for free

Watford boss Quique Sanchez Flores does not understand why English football is so expensive and and wants fans to be able to watch the game for free.

The cost of a Premier League ticket has come under scrutiny this week after Liverpool supporters staged a protest during their game against Sunderland.

Liverpool have subsequently frozen match and season ticket prices for next season while Fenway Sports Group, the club’s owners, issued an apology to their supporters in an open letter on Wednesday.

While Watford are yet to reveal their pricing structure beyond this term – their most expensive ticket for their next league match against Bournemouth is £42 – Flores wishes supporters across the land did not have to pay a single penny.

“I want to say that I would like the fans to pay as little as possible,” Flores, whose Watford side head to Crystal Palace on Saturday, said.

“It is an amazing love that the fans feel for their team but unfortunately football is not cheap, it is expensive.

“Sometimes the situation of the families is not so good, so if you are talking with me about what I think, I would like them to go for free, and if not free, cheap.

“I don’t understand why football is expensive for the people because the football is great for the fans. But football is more and more of a business and it is difficult to think that it will ever be free.”

Watford travel to Selhurst Park with just one victory from their last eight league matches following their 1-0 defeat against Tottenham last weekend.

Captain Troy Deeney dropped to the bench at White Hart Lane in one of five changes Flores made from the side which drew 0-0 against Chelsea three days earlier.

“If I put one player on the bench I am not punishing the player, I am just thinking about the player and the team,” Flores said.

“Since the draw at Chelsea on the Wednesday, Valon Behrami, Odion Ighalo and Deeney did not train any day.

“They had muscle problems and there were doubts about whether they are 100 per cent, so for me it is impossible to choose three players who are not 100 per cent because we have to play four more months this season.

“The recovery of the players is not the same – some need more recovery and more time – so we have to manage it in the best way possible.”

Earlier this week, John Barnes, the former Watford and England star, called for Deeney to be handed his first England call-up.

And Flores agreed that Deeney, who has largely impressed on Watford’s return to the top flight, could be the perfect partner for Leicester’s Jamie Vardy or Tottenham star Harry Kane.

“Deeney has all the conditions to go to the national team,” Flores added. “He is powerful, he is clever, and he understands English football 100 per cent.

“He has a good understanding with Ighalo but he can understand with Vardy and with Kane – and this is the kind of striker who can help all different kind of football styles.”